Interference

• Interference theory - when two pieces of information disrupt each other which can result in forgetting one or both pieces of information, or distortion of memory.
• Types of interference

  • Proactive interference -when an older memory interferes with a newer one.
  • Retroactive interference -when a newer memory interferes with an older one.
• Interference is worse when the memories are similar (McGeogh & McDonald). They studied retroactive interference by changing the amount of similarity between two sets of materials. Participants had to learn a list of 10 words until they could remember them with 100% accuracy. They then learned a new list.
• There were 6 groups of participants who had to learn different types of new lists:

  • synonyms
  • antonyms
  • words unrelated to originals
  • consonant syllables
  • 3 digit numbers
  • no new list (control condition)

  When the participants were asked to recall the original list Group 1 produced the worst recall. This shows that interference is strongest when memories are similar.
• Explanation of the effects off similarity

  The reason why similarly affects recall could be due to a

  • proactive interference where previous information could make it more difficult to store newer similar information.

  or

  • a retroactive interference where new information overrides previous similar memories due to similarity.